Discussion: Threw it at the wall and It went splat.........

We've beat the HR/DBO/PPR topic to death. SS-USA has decided to implement the rules. No the majority doesn't like it. Will HR hitter when limited go middle? YES! Pitchers gear up.
I've said it before we have all played this game for a long time and if we haven't learned bat control there's something wrong with us.
My one complaint a about the PPR is the zone should be the width of the rubber not the arm span. If the ball hits the ground behind the mound it shouldn't be a DBO. The pitcher should be moving towards second base after the release to react and protect. This makes the pitcher a defender not an OUT TARGET. It keeps the double play in the game. I like to hit to all areas on the field depending on the situation. However, if I have 2 strikes and the pitcher toss' short in front of the plate, please have protection on. I might take it to right field; most likely it will be going back up the middle. So ahead of time I want all pitchers to know that it's not personal I'm just doing what it takes to help my team win.
Limiting the home runs helps to hamper the sandbaggers. If you want to hit bombs through out the line up move up. AA should have 3 hrs, AAA s 5hrs, then DBO’s. Majors 8 hrs and Major + 12 a game then strikes.
With all of the complaining about the rule changes in limiting HR/DBO/PPR I hope a similar effort is being put forth in sharpening playing skills on the mound. From the tone of the respondents on the MB it will be a hot time up the middle this year.
JMO
Hitt2

Personally I think the DBO in the middle creates a more dangerous situation to the pitcher because they are not as prepared to field the ball.

I believe they are not as prepared because they have a false sense of security in that they do not think the batter is going up the middle.

To the best of my knowledge there was one pitcher that was hurt up the middle when he took a ball off the shin. Big hitter and bad bruise. In every other instance I saw there were plays made and double plays recorded.

IMO the rule will assist in causing more injuries than protection for the pitchers.

I was the pitcher that took it off the shin, broke the bone found out yesterday, I don't like the rule, today I have only felt that 1 time it was done intentionally but it wasnt this weekend. We all know with our ability we can hit the ball most anywere, when a batter has 2 strikes on him he wants to put the ball in play. I personally don't think you can do anything, you can't take a step back in technology by changing bats and balls, just play the game. I have a defibulator in me, I ware a pad over the machine, if I take one there by by, put thats my call, and if it happens I would say that it happend to me with a smile on my face.

And to the above post, there we many great plays made by pitchers this weekend, some of them the bullets but they were caught.

We as adults should make our own decision when it time to stop pitching and become a catcher, last year alone I got hit at least 6 times either in my arm head neck ankle you name it, and guess what I want to pitch again against the Mavericks tonight if I could.

Maybe some new protective equipment, but I wouldn't trade this for the World.

Now if the days come were I feel that it was done intentionally, well lets just say the the Siclian in me would come out.

Great comments guys.
Sounds like you had a good time.
Mike and Pork well said
and I hope Dave is reading along.
You guys carry us, our hearts/souls
on the field and those that would make decisions
about and for us, need to listen and understand.

Here's something else.
If I really want to win a game
I want my big guys buzzing the tower.
The more I can get the pitcher either worried
about himself or his pitches
the better for my chances of beating him.
It's smart and worth a couple of DBO's
especially in the first couple of innings.

Also,
if I want to hit a pitcher no DBO
is going to deter me from doing it.
What if we're being beat by a lot
or overmatched or undermatched
and the game is not in question
who cares about making an out.

Mike's right.
It simply is NOT going to work
and how many injuries will it take
to make it clear.

Mike and Mike,
There can't be three senior players
in RSM. Pork, I pitched against you guys two weeks ago in Anny. I'll
look for you next time out there.
By the way,bought a pitchers helmet
yesterday for great hitting teams
like yours. Maybe unnecessary,head
in the sand equipment, but I'm an
old man,looking for any protection
I can get.

I just find it hard to believe that anyone that knows anything about softball..How could they not know that if you can't hit the long ball the middle is your best choice!! I know I would never try to hurt anyone but at the sametime I swing as hard as possible everytime.So if I know it's going to hurt my team I gonna hit it whereever it goes not intentionaly.But I'm going try to not hit straight at a infielder.I just dont understand how people that should know the game, that is if there making the rules of the game should know this.I'm not a hr hitter by no stretch but at the sametime I dont dink either.

mikey sorry about the leg.I caught one hard line drive and had one bang off my glove.Even with the glove my hand has a nasty buise and still hurts pretty good.Hope it heals quickly see ya at kit carson
Alex another doubleplay pitcher/target haha

Nice post Pork,already in retooling for 09 season most of the talk among my players is about hitting the ball down this year.That's a scary thought.balls that flew harmlessly over the fence will now be missiles through the infield or right at infielders or pitchers.Did we really make our game safer.I'm just guessing but by what percentage did balls in play increase by 30-40% are we safer.We install DBO to protect the pitcher than limit HRS for M+ a put the pitcher and the rest of the infielders in a more dangerous environment.I know this is all redundant but I think this is so obvious that Staff can't see it.

Pork, sorry to hear about your injury.Wondering out loud would shin guards been useful in preventing your injury? It is ashame that anyone gets hurt in our game.But,injuries are going to happen we need to take precautions to limit them,Armour-Up,is the way to go not changing the basics of this Great Game! Pork,hope you heal quickly.
Tomar77

Fellas, the words of the year should be Armour-Up. If you pitch and don't wear the protective equipment available then your not using the brain God gave you. Be safe and wear the equipment. It's probably cheaper than your deductable. If our pitcher wants it, i'll be more than happy to chip in and i'm sure the rest of my team would also. Everybody have a safe year and somebody please make the temps start going up. Lazer Larry, Coors Light, over and out

Hey Ray,
It wouldn't be as much of an issue
if it didn't mean truly increasing the danger
to senior players.
This is a serious issue and a serious mistake
even if it satisfies other agenda items.
Pork, my good man,
welcome to the broken bone club.

As elder statesmen I cannot believe that seniors go at the middle to harm the pitcher. I pitch all the time in the local over 30 league and very rarely does the ball come middle. However,in certain situations I will pitch for the "comebacker". Just time to Play Ball!.

Winning is so important that "I want my big guys buzzing the tower" or "if the game is not in question, who cares if I intentionally make an out (ie: hit at the pitcher).
Sounds very intentional; very little respect or concern for others. Nothing else matters, just win baby, win!?
This is what is wrong with softball at all levels.

Thanks, Dirty, you just very well re-interated my point. Anyway, who put Bill Russell in charge of senior softball?

Again, from earlier statements: intimidation is o.k., no matter the consequences. Intentional, not accidental, potential injuries to pitchers who are hit. "I don't care" attitude, because winning is the only important thing. I repeat: that is what is wrong with sonftball at all levels.

I draw the line at trying to hurt someone, but winning at almost any cost is good in my book. Hitting middle to hurt someone, which I have never seen done, is over the line. But hitting it for a basehit is fine, the middle is part of the field. The day the middle is banned, or a screen is put up, is when I find another position or another hobby.

Here's something else.
If I really want to win a game
I want my big guys buzzing the tower.
The more I can get the pitcher either worried
about himself or his pitches
the better for my chances of beating him.
It's smart and worth a couple of DBO's
especially in the first couple of innings. Joe, I can't believe that the game has become so important that you would ask your fellow players to hit at a pitcher. Joe, there is very little precision and accuracy from any batter (including Clatter), there is the general area that they hit to. This is not a game of darts as you well know ( broken limbs). The game should be played at the highest level of sportsmenship

This thread was going well until XXXXX came on board. His absence over the past week was great and a lot of positive info and different views were shared. Thanks to all the tourney players that provided feedback. Those that don't participate in SS-USA tourneys need to find a board where Rec players and complainer of cost and number teams playing in bracket, can share their limited experience and thoughts about the game.
hitt2

I've often heard/seen players
who won't hit the middle as not being winners,
Len and I've participated in middle wars
as most of us have
and I still think that when someone goes
after/through your pitcher
your guys need to stand up and protect your guy
and go after theirs.
The very best players and men
I've played with and against
play this way.
It's everywhere in sport whether
it should in a perfect world
be there or not.

Gentlemen
I threw it against the wall and it went splat thread was fun. However I didn't expect a cancer to appear. So to ensure it will not be malignant; Gentlemen lets end this thread. The rain has stopped out west.

I have often heard that good sportsman-ship, integrity, self-respect, and re-spect for others makes one a winner---not intimidation, or an uncaring attitude for others or the final score of a game.

protecting one's pitcher is one thing; the big guys buzzing the tower is quite another. Best players and best men are not necessarily the same. Walking off the field, win or lose, having our adversary respect us for the way we played the game says much more about us than a victory at any cost.

BTW, I am not so much a believer. I have trouble with blind faith, and to the best of my knowledge I have never seen God. He might exist, I cannot say no, but cannot say yes either to what I have no proof of. Just me.

Life is filled with blind faith. We go to hospitals and have doctors we have never met perform surgeries that we do not understand. We take prescriptions with handwriting we cannot decipher to pharmacists we hope can mix chemicals correctly and put said chemicals in our bodies hopefully to become well.

We get in our cars and trust that the other drivers are not toking or drinking and can stay in their lanes.

I get on the mound and pitch to a batter whom I trust is not a nut-case who intends on taking my head off.

The one area of my life where there is not simply blind faith is in relationship to the Almighty. You have never seen God; I see Him everywhere. He is in the vastness of the cosmos, the beauty of our world, the smile of a baby, and in His holy word. I find Him in worship on His holy day and in the hearts of fellow believers whose lives are changed by His love and grace.

I check out the credentials of all my doctors. I research all the procedures. I keep my head on a swivel when driving. All I hear about God is what the pedophiles with funny collars used to tel me on Sundays.

It is certainly fine for anyone to believe what they want, no harm in that at all. But I have NO proof of God, and the smiles of babies tell me nothing about Him. Again, there might very well be one, but the way I define proof there just isn't any.

Sadly, your experiences are not only hurtful, but also reflective of the defectiveness and dishonesty of humanity. That is found in religion, business, politics, and even in sports. Everyone who says "Lord, Lord" is not one of His, Jesus declared.

Anyway, with respect, you are entitled to your opinion. However, I will re-interate: Keep looking; if you sincerely seek him, you will find him.

One last thought and I will bother you no more: If you are right--so what. If I am right--Oh My!

Softball4b
Thanks for putting me back in perspective. There is a God he provided me with the gift to play softball and I thank him for it. Hew provide me with a father to play catch with and encourage my efforts in sports and the class room. Every blessing is a gift from him. Praise be his name.

DIRTY
Think about this.
Your son has been to Iraq? He returned homer as healthy as anyone can that has experienced war, death and trials of life?

Gentlemen, you are correct; this is a softball website. However, I offer no apologies for diverging away for just a bit. A legitimate question was asked; a door of opportunity was opened and as you can see, a respectful dialogue was conducted.

Surely, you would agree and permit momentary digression from the disagreements, pettiness, name-calling, and willfulness that seems so prevalent.

In conclusion ( I'm a pastor:) ) there was no need whatsoever for the final comments directed toward Dirty.

Just my opinion: If we would listen more to our Creator, there might be a different attitude on the website and surely at the ballfields! Thanks and God bless.

I don't want to argue with you. I just think religion and politics are too sensitive as subjects, and shouldn't be discussed on a forum like this. If you want to invite people to interact with you on this subject, post your email address. And as for the Gary comment, it was a joke. Besides, he has gone out of his way on numerous occasions to try to get people's goat on this board. A little humor at his expense isn't going too far. I think even he would agree with that. Anyway, I hope you have a good day

For the record:
On a thread I start, if the door is opened for an infusion of faith it's ok by me...
Ken
I agree that this is a softball site and the focus should be in that area. However from all indication I see God as the creator that blessed me with the ability to play this game. He is a fan, supporter of all player believers or not. He is the ultimate player in life, baseball and softball for that fact all sports.
Southpaw
Your right didn’t need to make remark to Dirty… I wish he would start his own threads and stay off of mine. But who would read them… Crud there I did it again, sorry.
Hitt2

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